Kabukichō Kids

Abstract

At the heart of Tokyo, a set of old sweeping gates glow red every night to invite visitors from all over the world into the red light district Kabukichō, a neighborhood notorious for its extravagant activities and dark secrets. Strangely enough, in recent years, this vibrant fragment of the Shinjuku ward has become a playground for children to come together and play their games. And here enters Nobuyuki, a timid young man looking to discover the truth about the notorious Kabukichō Kids and the tumultuous lives they lead… and perhaps finding a place in this unruly crowd where he can finally be himself. Inspired by Higuchi Ichiyo’s Child’s Play and the real-life phenomenon of teenagers gathering in Kabukichō to build a community called the “Tō-Yoko Kids,” the story illustrates the lives of youth in modern-day Tokyo and sheds light on societal issues that have yet to be properly addressed or recognized. While Higuchi’s works were written over a century ago, the themes concerning the perpetuation of gender roles and the various stigmas attached to socioeconomic statuses are very much relevant to the people of today. Through “Kabukichō Kids,” readers are encouraged to think critically about who the real perpetrators of these stories are, and what led these children to take the paths that they have chosen.